Canal excavator



p 1932- A. c. CLARK ETAL v 1,377,556

CANAL EXCAVATOR Filed Aug. 6. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. Aer 6T CMRK. fir/1w? L. 6641 56 p 1932- A.-C. CLARK ETAL 1,877,555

CANAL EXCAVATOR Filed Aug-- 6, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 2419/6. CLARK 457m? A. GRAVE-5.

ATTORNEY 13, 1932. A c CLARK ETAL 1,877,556

CANAL EXCAVATOR Filed Aug. 6, 192 '4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. .AEY (Z CLARK. 4577/02 L. 6641 55.

A TTORNEY Sept. 13, 1932. A c, CLARK ET AL 1,877,556 1 cum; EXCAVATOR Filed Aug. 6. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE .ARY o. CLARK AND ARTHUR L. Gnavns or IMPERIAL, oanrronnm; sarn GRAVES.

ASSIGNOR T0 IMPERIAL IREIG ATIOIl' DISTRICT, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA cANAr. 'nxcav'a ron Application filed August: 6,x1928. Serial K012971816.

Our invention relates to excavators, or diggers, particularly adapted for making and maintaining canals or ditches of various widths and depths for irrigation purposes.

The objects of our invention are; First, to provide a machine ofthis classhaving a laterally extensible frame adapted to span ditches of various widths, said frame being extensible or contractable in width automati:

cally by the propulsion of the machine for} wardly or backwardly; second, to provide a machine of this class in "which one of the supporting and propelling means at one side of the frame is adapted to be shifted angularly with respect to the general direction of motion of the machine so that such supporting and propelling means is automatically shifted outwardly or inwardly, dependin upon the direction of angular shift; thir to provide a machine of this class in which the supporting and propelling means or tractors at the opposite sides of the machine .may

be advanced in either direction in fixed paral-.

lel paths, or may advance in gradually diverging paths to the limit of the lateral extension of the machine, or in converging paths to the limit of the lateral contraction of the frame of the machine; fourth, to'provide a machine of this class for securely holding the direction of the several tractors relative to each other, and also for securely locking the frame or the supporting tractors against lateral extension or contraction relative to each other;

fifth, to provide novel means of shifting the one tractor angularly with respect to the other or to the supporting frame; sixth, to provide a machine of this class in which the shiftable or flanking tractor is pivoted to the frame on a horizontal axis so as to reduce to a minimum twisting strains upon the frame; seventh, to provide a machine of this class in which the several operating or propelling elements are operatively disconnected and are separately operable relative to, and

simultaneously with, and in opposite direc-- tion from each other, so that the machine may move in a strai ht line forwardly or backwardly, around sight curves, which may turn around substantially within its own area, and whereby two tractors may move at substanv,tially the same s eed forwardly or back- I wardly even thoug the one tractor is shifted at anvanglepeighth, toivprovide a machine of I thi s.class' inlwhich the separate operating units areseparately- -dr1ven by electric-motors operated by a common power plant; ninth, to provide; a novel mechanism for angularly shifting oneof the: tractors relative to the other; tenth,-to provide asawhole a novelly v constructed ,machine of this class; and, eleventh,-to 'provide a machine of this class which is particularly simple and economical, vof construction proportionate to its functions,

durable, eflicient, easy to operate, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order. I .4

With these and. other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, our invention-com sists of-certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and. particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings and to the charac-- ters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view. of our excavator in one form of construction, showing by dotted lines the tractor at one side of the machine shifted to various angular position; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of our machine showing the same in position for digging a canal or ditch; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof taken from the side of the flanking tractor, or the tractor adapted to be shifted angularly with respect to the machine; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional viewof a main frame A, a pair of separate and separately controllable supporting and-,proe pelling means or tractors B and C, and an excavator or excavating portion D'carried" by the main frame at the rear end-thereof.-

The supporting and propelling means, or the tractors, B and C, as shown," are of-the" track laying type of tractors, the' o'ne-atthe' right hand side being of considerably gr'eat er length than the so-called' flanking tractor 1 side upon the larger ormain tractor- B ,-and ismoved, shifted and tilted withthe tractor B; The opposite or left hand side of the frame, which may be considerably shorter tlian'the right hand side of the frame, is yieldably 'sup-- 1 ported upon the flanking tractor C in a mani-f fold manner, whereby the flanking'tractorif may be extended or contracted laterally relative to the main tractor, tilted longitudinally i upwardly or downwardly relative thereto, or shifted horizontally, angularly thereto.

The lateral shiftingof the'tractors 'rela tive to each other'is preferably efle'cted'by' a laterally extensible frame which forms a part of the main frame. In Fig. 4 of the drawings is shown a form of such extensible portion, designated E, and consists of aplurality o'f longitudinally shiftable and "telescoping frame members, designated respectively 1, 2,

3 and 4 from the outer to the inner member. These telescoping frame members are preferabl rectangular in construction and built up 0 structural form, as shown. The outer member 1 forms part of the supporting or reinforcing of the main frame and is preferably positioned under the operating platform. The inner telescoping frame member 4, which is built up essentially of an H-beam having angles at the inner sides of its flanges, extends beyond all of the other telescoping supporting members and is provided at its ex tended end with an upwardly offset portion 4a at the extended end of which is pro-- vided a cylindrical or trunnion portion 46;

The tractor C is provided'with a fixed superstructure or frame 5 which extends a considerable'distance above the upper tracks of the tractor C. At the upper end of this frame. is mounted the power unit and gear transmission for driving the tractor G, as will be described later. Intermediate the upper end of this frame and the tracks of the tractor C are provided cross braces or supports 50: on which is mounted a large hearing plate 6. This bearing plate is provided at its. centrals-portion with a vertical opening G'aand at its'upper end or side with a beveled-bearing seat 66 of broad and inverted conical form. Onthe beveled bearing seat 6?) is rotatablyisupportedfa conforming beveled bearing portion 7d at the iinder side of a our-. nal, meml' e 117 through which the trunnion 4?), above described, extends and is rotatably mount-edon anaxis positioned horizontally and transversely to the bearing seat 66 and also'transversely to the longitudinal extent of the tractor" C. The trunnion 4b is're- .tainedagainst longitudinal movement relative to'the journal mister-17 by a collar 8 at the end'of theftru nnion 46 extending to the opposite" side 'o'f the journaimeinber 7, The journalmembe'r 7fis retained in position rela- C at the left hand side'of the'rna'chine; The

tive to the bearin platefti by af've rtical ex- -'te'nsior'i 7b 'of the ournal' niembefl, and by a collar 9." This vertical extension 7 b'extends jdownwa'rdly fronifthefjorlrnal member 7 through'the vertical opening6a in'the oearing plate. The 'collar Q-is secured to the lower end of th s verticalext'ension and engages a shoulder'60 1n a'reces's at the under side of the bearing late 6, as shown'best in F ig. 5. v

The bearing plate: 'G'Qa'nd therefore the flanking tractor C securedthereto, is in this instance rotated relati'veto the'journal member Tand thefraine ofthe machine by a worm gear 10 and'a worm llf'fThe worm gear is only-a'fragmentary portion or segment of a worm'geafr'aiid i s's'e'cured to the forward side of the bearing' plate"6. The worm 11 is secured to a spindle )rsh aft 12 which is revolubly mounted "infaj forwardly extended portion 7 a of the journal member 7, and meshes with the segmental "worm gear 10. The spindlejlQ extends beyond the normally outer side of the frame 5 and is provided at its extended end with an operating hand wheel 13, which, in the structure here disclosed, is adapted to be operated by a secondary operator standing'on the ground near the flanking tractor. As the hand wheel 13 is rotated in either direction, preferably when the whole machine is advancing-in either direction, the flanking tractor is rotated about its vertical axis, and may be shifted to either of the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 or to 7 any intermediate position.

Both the bearing plate 6 and the journal member 7 are providedwith backwardly extended portions 6d and 703 which are superimposed. These rearwardly extended por tions are provided with a plurality of conforming holes'6e and 7a through which is extended the pin 14 when any two holes in each of said members are aligned, for either locking the tractor in its normal position thereto? y ""Tlius,-it- Willfb seenfhat when the flanking tractor Cfwhich is of'relativ'ellyj srhall construction-and-easily rotated, is rotated about its vertical axis, a's describedabove and shown by dotted lines in Fig. ;1,- lateral area is automatically applied on the main frame A whenl themachine is propelled. either forwai'dly' p1- backwardly by t ractors' B and C. since only the laterally extendable portion. E permitted toyield, the telescoping members of'the extensible portionE are automaticallyshifted longitudinally relative to'eacb otherhnd transversely relativeto the main frame to the limit of their longitudinal extension 'or contraction," or until the flanking tractor is again shifted to a'position with its longitudinal axis parallel to that of the tractor B,- that is, the telescoping members are extended or contracted with respect to each other when the machine is propelled while the tracto'r C'is positionedangularly, no further extension contraction, being made when the machine is stopped, or when the limit of theextension or contraction of the telescoping members is reached, or when the tr actor G is shifte'd with its longitudinal axis parallel to'thelongitudinal axis of the tractor'B', I fAIthOugh have providedpositive means on the members 6' and 7 for permitting angular shifting of. the tractor C and tluspreventing unintentional extension or 'contraction'of the extendable' portion.of the frame, we have provided 'otllermeansin connection with the extendable portion of the frame for securing same against unwarrantedfem tension orcontraction, thus holding the two tractor units inffixed positions relative to each other. This securing means consists preferablyof a plurality of bolts 21, as shown bcst ir 2 and 4, each of which extends tiuou'gh two adjacent and engaging telescopic members of the extendable portion of the frame. Each of the bolts 21 is preferably fixed in the outer telescoping member of each pair and extends through a longitudinal slot in the inner telescoping member of each pair, asshown bestin Fig. 2. lVhen any of these bolts or clamp means are loosened, longitudinal extension or contraction of the corresponding telescoping members is permitted. llVheu the desired extension or contraction of the extenda'blc portion of the frame is effected, such'bolts or clamp means are tightencd'to prevent unwarranted extension and contraction of the frame of the machine.

Sincethe-tractor Q andthe excavating portion D of our excavator are shiftable in various ways and. to considerable extents relative to the main frame-A which is stationary on the tractor B, we have provided independent power units in the form of electric motors 31, 32, and 33 on and for driving, respectively,

parallel t o tlie'tractor angular-1y relative the tractor B, the tractor C, and the excavating portion of the machine. 1 These electric motors receive the electric current from generators 34' mounted on the mainframe 1 and driven by an engine 35 which is'preferably a gasoline engine. By so driving the various' units, the excavating portion may be driven when desired and as rapidly as desired irrespective of the forward or backward motion of the machine; and theflanking tract'or inay' be driven. forwardly at the 'same speed as'the tractor B, or alt/an angle thereto and at the same speed forwardly, or slower, or faster than the tractor B' for moving around curves, or they may be driven-in 0p posite directions so as to make as smalls turn as possible. "All such, variations of direc tion andspeeds are'effec'ted without dompli cated transmission mechanism,"gear shift ing apparatus, and the like. :1

The excavating portion of our machine is mounted on a 'framedl whichis mounted on a pair of tracks/l2and 43 atthe-rear o'fthe frame A and transversely with respect to the A longitudinal axis of the machine; The ,excavating conveyer, which consists of a buck et conveyer, and designated'fl' in the drawings, is mounted on the excavator frame 45 which is suspended by cables and sheaves from a backwardly extending armof the 9 frame 41, as shown bestin Fig. 3." Although the excavator framel5'is suspended in the manner described, it is prevented, to a. certain extent, from swaying backwardly and forwardly relative to the supporting frame 41 by a rod 46 connectedby-a universal joint 4:7- to a slide 48 reciprocally'mounted in a vertical direction on theframe 41. The one end of the excavator frame 45 isadapted to be raised orlowered in order to raise the operative portion of the bucket conveyer from the excavated canal or ditch, or for lowering the same thereinto. Such raising and lowering is effected by other cables 49, and sheaves 50 and 51, the sheave 51 being connected to the excavator frame and the other being suspended from a boom 52 mounted on the frame The motor 33 is mounted on the frame 45, which, as stated, is movable upwardly and downwardly, which is tiltable, and which is adapted to be moved transversely with respect to the frame A. Thus, the excavating conveyer may be operated in any position desired irrespective of its positions relative to the main supporting frame.

Though we have shownand described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, we do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but 'desire to include in the scope of our invention, the construction, combination and arrange ment substantially as set forth in'the ap pended claims.

Having thus described our inventiom'what journal and for locking the same in various positions relative to each other, said means in connection. with the, frame being longitude nallyextensible andcontractable by the second .trac torr and means for preventing the longitudinal. extension and contraction of the means in connection with the frame,

a machine ofjthe class described, a freely laterallyextensibleframe, means for supporting one side' of the-frame andv for.

propelling.thefranie, and similar means at the opposite lateral side o'fnthe frame, the latteraneans being shiftable laterally with the laterallyextensible portion of the frame and shiftable about avertical axisangularly with respect to the longitudinalaxis of, the

frame and the firstpropelling means, said frame being, capable of being extended and contracted when said frame is propelled while the latter means is positioned angularly with respect to the frame.

a 3. In a machine of theclass described, a freely laterally extensible frame, means for supporting one side'of the frame and for propelling theframe, similar means at the opposite lateral-side of the frame, the latter means beingshiftable laterally with the laterally extensible: portion of the frame'and shiftable'about a vertical axis angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame and the first propelling means, said frame being. capable of being extended and contracted when said frameiis propelled while the latter means is positioned angularly with respect to the frame, and means for securing the second means against angular shifting and in angular shifted position relative to the frame.

t. In, a machine of the class described, a freely laterally extensible frame, means for supporting one side of the frame and for propelling'the frame, similar means at the opposite lateral side of the frame, the latter means being shiftable laterally with the laterally extensibleportion of the frame and shift-able about a vertical axis angularly with respect to the longitudinal. axis of the frame and the first propelling means, said frame being capableof being extended and contracted when said frame is propelled while the latter is positioned angularly with respect to the frame, means for securing the second means against angular shifting and in angular shifted position relative to the frame, and other means for preventing the supporting one side of the frame and for propelling the frame, similar means at the opposite lateral side of the frame, the latter means being shiftable-laterally with the laterally extensible portion of the frame and shiftable about a vertical axis angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame and the first propelling means, said. frame being capable of being extended and contracted when said frame is propelled while the latter means is positioned angularly with respect to the frame, and manual means for angularly shifting the second means relative to said frame and also returning said second means in a normal position relative to said frame.

6. In a machine of the class described, a main supporting frame having an extensible portion at one side, a tractor rigidly secured to theopposite side of the main frame for supporting saidside of the frame and for propelling the frame, and a second tractor for supporting the first mentioned side of said frame and also for propelling the frame, said second tractor being 'pivotally connected and shiftable angularly relative to the extensible portion of the frame and shiftable laterally relative to the main portion of the frame, said extensible portion of the frame being adapted to be extended and contracted while the second tractor is shifted angularly relative to the frame and when the machine is propelled forwardly and backwardly.

7 In a machine of the class described, a main supporting frame having an extensible portion at one side, a tractor rigidly secured tothe opposite side of the main frame for supporting said side of the frame and for propelling the frame, a second tractor for supporting the first mentioned side of said frame and also for propelling the frame,

said second tractor being pivotally connected i and shiftable angularly relative to the extensible portion ofthe frame and shiftable laterally relative to the main portion of the frame, said extensible portion of the frame being adapted to be extended and contracted while the second tractor is shifted angularly relative to the frame and when the machine is propelled forwardly or backwardly, means for preventing the lateral extension and contraction of said frame, and other means for preventing the angular shifting of the second tractor and for holding the same in angular position relative to the frame.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Imperial, California, this 11th day of July, 1928.

ARY C. CLARK.

ARTHUR L. GRAVES. 

